Supplemental Security Income & Unemployment
- SSI operates at the federal level, funded by general revenue tax and administered by Social Security. The SSI program allows assistance for three classes of individuals: blind, disabled or over 65. An applicant must have low income and few resources to qualify. Your bank accounts must total less than $2,000 and your monthly income must be low. Income calculations include earned and unearned income.
- Unemployment benefits accrue as a result of past employment over approximately two years prior to filing for benefits. You must be available and willing to work and you must accept a reasonable job offer that is close in pay and duties to what you performed in the past. The state ends unemployment benefits when funds deplete, unless the federal government continues funding.
- SSI eligibility requires disability, blindness or age. If Social Security finds that you are disabled, blind or aged, you are probably not available and ready for work as required for unemployment benefits eligibility. If you receive unemployment benefits, you agree that you are actively seeking employment. In 2011, SSI pays $674 base federal amount, with subtraction for your earned and unearned income. Unearned income includes your unemployment benefits subtracted at 100 percent with $20 exempt. If you receive more than $694 in unemployment benefits in a month, your SSI benefits are zero.
- When you apply for SSI or state unemployment, you agree to a review of your records and information. These federal and state agencies may exchange information about you and both records maintain your information by Social Security number.
- Unemployment taxes provide funds for unemployment insurance, based on your work history. The amount of your benefits depends on your past earnings, subject to a ceiling that is about $400 a week in most states. If you can qualify for unemployment benefits and are actively seeking employment, you do not have to have limited resources as required by SSI benefits. You can have any amount of money in the bank or income from unearned income sources to qualify for unemployment. SSI is need-based help for food and shelter and requires monthly reporting of changes in your finances or living arrangements with restrictions on the assets you have available.
